Sharapova Defends WTA Birmingham Title
Posted on June 13, 2005Maria Sharapova won her second consecutive WTA Birmingham title Sunday with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 win over Jelena Jankovic.
It was the third consecutive title on grass for Sharapova after last year's Birmingham and Wimbledon triumphs.
"She broke me in the second, she was going for all her shots and I couldn't hold my serve," Sharapova said. "When an opponent starts to play well, if they can keep up the level, she's too good. She picked it up in the second set but in the third, I managed to take it. I felt I was in control at the end."
Sharapova won the title with only one other Top 10 player in the field in Alicia Molik, despite suffering a cold and a thigh strain.
"Opponents pushed me but I was still able to come through," Sharapova said. "Having to battle through tough matches and a cold to win the tournament is a great feeling."
Jankovic had a thigh strain of her own that required treatment between the second and third sets.
"I couldn't get my serve going today, and I had a problem with my left leg," Jankovic said. "I just wasn't 100 percent out there and she took advantage of that. I had my chances and managed to take a set, but I couldn't keep up the momentum in the third."
No. 2 seeds Daniela Hantuchova and Ai Sugiyama won their first title as a team together in the doubles final with a 6-2, 6-3 win over the unseeded team of Eleni Daniilidou and Jennifer Russell.
It was the third consecutive title on grass for Sharapova after last year's Birmingham and Wimbledon triumphs.
"She broke me in the second, she was going for all her shots and I couldn't hold my serve," Sharapova said. "When an opponent starts to play well, if they can keep up the level, she's too good. She picked it up in the second set but in the third, I managed to take it. I felt I was in control at the end."
Sharapova won the title with only one other Top 10 player in the field in Alicia Molik, despite suffering a cold and a thigh strain.
"Opponents pushed me but I was still able to come through," Sharapova said. "Having to battle through tough matches and a cold to win the tournament is a great feeling."
Jankovic had a thigh strain of her own that required treatment between the second and third sets.
"I couldn't get my serve going today, and I had a problem with my left leg," Jankovic said. "I just wasn't 100 percent out there and she took advantage of that. I had my chances and managed to take a set, but I couldn't keep up the momentum in the third."
No. 2 seeds Daniela Hantuchova and Ai Sugiyama won their first title as a team together in the doubles final with a 6-2, 6-3 win over the unseeded team of Eleni Daniilidou and Jennifer Russell.